Use the Pedestrian Crosswalk, Not the Green Bike Crossing

As of September 26, 2026, walkers approaching from City Hall Park should cross Centre Street in the pedestrian crosswalk beside the green-painted bike crossing, then continue onto the elevated promenade. Do not follow the green crossing or protected bike lane.

The pedestrian entrance has not moved to another street. It remains at Park Row and Centre Street, across from City Hall Park, as NYC Tourism identifies it. What changed in 2026 is the final approach: pedestrians and cyclists now have separate routes instead of converging in the same small plaza.

The exact walking route from City Hall Park

1. Go to the east edge of City Hall Park, facing the Brooklyn Bridge promenade across Centre Street.
2. Use the pedestrian crosswalk across Centre Street. It is the widened southern crosswalk linking the park side to the promenade entrance. NYC DOT doubled its width as part of the redesign, according to the Mayor’s Office project announcement.
3. Do not follow the green-painted crossing beside it. That crossing is for cyclists connecting the bridge with Park Row and the Centre Street bike lane.
4. Continue onto the elevated pedestrian promenade. The bridge’s protected bicycle path is separate, on the roadway below.

The useful visual rule is: pedestrian crosswalk, then elevated promenade. Green pavement marks the bicycle route.

If you approach from Chinatown or the east rather than through City Hall Park, you may already be on the bridge side of Centre Street. Join the elevated pedestrian ramp directly rather than turning into or walking along the green protected lane.

Why older directions can be confusing

Cyclists and walkers have had separate paths across the bridge itself since 2021, but until this redesign they still converged at the Manhattan approach. The city added a protected bicycle connection along Centre Street so riders could reach Park Row without passing through the pedestrian entrance.

The city announced the redesign on March 27, 2026, with construction planned for April and completion before the World Cup period in June, as amNewYork reported. On July 22, Streetsblog documented the completed layout: a protected Centre Street lane, a sharp turn for cyclists and a green bicycle crossing beside the pedestrian crosswalk. Its on-site report also noted minimal wayfinding, so the pavement markings may be more useful than waiting for a prominent entrance sign.

Continuing into Brooklyn

The bridge is free to walk. On the Brooklyn side, the full promenade reaches street level near Tillary Street and Boerum Place. An earlier staircase exits at Washington Street/Cadman Plaza East and Prospect Street, according to Brooklyn Bridge Park.

Use the Washington Street stairs if DUMBO is your next stop and stairs work for your group. Otherwise, stay on the promenade to the full street-level exit, then walk back toward DUMBO or Brooklyn Heights. The crossing connects naturally with this DUMBO walking route, avoiding an unnecessary trip across the city.